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Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

Arcom White Paper on Radio

The result of more than 30 hearings and consultations with the main players in radio, Arcom has published its White Paper on the future of radio in France, which provides a broad overview of the sector and its economic, legal and technical aspects, as well as changes in usage.

The White Paper on Radio was presented by Roch-Olivier Maistre, President of Arcom and by Hervé Godechot, Arcom member and chairman of the Radio and Digital Audio working group, at the Assises de la radio 2024 conference on Tuesday 18 June at the Arcom headquarters in Paris.

Arcom is proposing a two-phase trajectory, aiming to achieve predominantly digital broadcasting by the end of 2033 and requiring the mobilisation of the entire ecosystem:

• Phase 1: Preparation (2024-2027): Establishing a balanced radio ecosystem within a legislative and technological environment that facilitates continued digitisation under optimal conditions.

• Phase 2: Migration (2028-2033): Completing a market-initiated transition to a digital broadcasting model, six years after the preparation phase and nine years after the publication of the White Paper in 2024.

The transition will require regulation, metrics, planning, marketing and then resources.

DAB+ : a structural choice for the radio industry

Launched in 2014 in Paris, Nice and Marseille, DAB+ is now seen as critical to contribute to the future of radio and to address the saturation of FM. It is a means to preserve diversity and plurality. As DAB+ is reaching a turning point, the regulator, Arcom, is launching in 2023 a consultation with the radio industry which will include the switchover from FM to DAB+ both in the metropolitan area and overseas. The economics of radio are a key element of the expected white paper, as well as the potential acceleration of the deployment.

Deployment of DAB+

On 12 October 2021, France launched two new national multiplexes broadcasting 26 DAB+ stations, including national services from Radio France, leading private broadcasters and four new national services. The new multiplexes are broadcast along the major motorway corridors of Paris-Lyon-Marseille. The 26 services include four new DAB+ only stations and 22 stations that are also broadcast in FM. Extension to more main roads and highly populated areas is planned for the end of 2023. These 26 radios are in addition to the hundreds of radio stations already available regionally and locally on DAB+

The CSA rollout plan, the so-called "nodes and arcs strategy" described in 2017, which also includes continued regional and local rollouts alongside the launch of national services, was updated in 2021.

Arcom says that "In total, it is expected that 17 multiplexes, extended or local, will have started broadcasting during the summer of 2023. At the end of these start-ups, the coverage of the metropolitan population by DAB+ will exceed 50%."

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for DAB digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with network operator TDF, and RadioDNS which promotes hybrid radio.

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Receiver legislation

Older pieces of legislation in France related to DAB+ in cars have been superseded by the transposition in November 2020 of the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, with the transposition of the EECC into French law officially published on 28 May 2021. Domestic receivers, for which the reception function of radio services broadcast is not purely incidental, and have an alphanumeric screen, must be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio. Discussions are ongoing to make DAB+ mandatory in all receivers.

Last update: 06.01.2025 - older versions

DAB+ digital terrestrial radio continues to roll out across France. With its arrival in 2023 in towns such as Bayonne, Besançon, Brest, Clermont-Ferrand, Metz, Nancy and Pau, in summer 2023 DAB+ passed the symbolic milestone of covering 50% of the French population. A trial has also been underway in Martinique since January 2023, and La Réunion since March 2024.

Regulator Arcom announced that "In December 2024, more than 62% of the population of mainland France was covered by DAB+, compared with 50% at the end of 2023."

In December 2021, the French media regulator CSA, published an updated DAB+ roadmap highlighting DAB+ developments plans for the 2022-2024 period.

According to the new roadmap, calls for applications will be launched for 50 local allotments in that period of time – these primarily concerned the cities of Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Rennes, Caen, Nancy, Paris, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Poitiers and Toulouse.

Last update: 22.09.2023 - older versions

In this country there are

on air.

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Please note:

(a) These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b) The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

An interactive map showing all services currently on air in France, as well as those licensed to go on air, can be found at: Ma radio DAB Plus - CSA - Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	358	102	460

Last update: 18.07.2024 - older versions

In France, as of H2 2023, 98% of new cars sold are equipped with DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2023).

Last update: 05.02.2021 - older versions

Receiver legislation

In December 2018 DAB+ coverage reached 21.3% of the French population, which triggered a law requiring that all radio receivers (including in-car) sold in France be compatible with the broadcasting standards (ie DAB+). This 2018 law was amended in June 2020 to align with the EECC deadline of 20 December 2020.

In November 2020, the French parliament voted in favour of a law to transpose the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, enabling the government to take a final decree which is expected by early 2021. The decree will confirm that new passenger cars in France will be required to include digital terrestrial radio from 20 December 2020, in line with the EECC. Additional obligations regarding consumer receivers have yet to be agreed and may also be included in that decree enacting the EECC.

More detailed information is in the WorldDAB EECC Factsheet.

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

La Réunion: Arcom has authorised two trials of DAB+ radio broadcasting in Saint-Denis from March 1, 2024.
La Martinique: trial authorised since January 2023 ; three sites in Martinique and 11 stations: Radio Fusion, Fusion 100 % Infos, Fusion Compas, Fusion Salsa Kl@moson, Fusion Gold, Maknet Jazz, Mixx FM Martinique, Radio Évangile Martinique, Radio Actif Martinique, Identité Radio and Martinique La 1ère.

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

DAB+ regulation in France is outlined on the French Media regulator's website.

Arcom's annual report

Arcom's White Paper on the future of radio

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

Ensemble pour le DAB+

“Ensemble pour le DAB+” is an association created in 2022 on the instigation of the Bureau de la Radio, Radio France and SIRTI, with the aim of setting up and coordinating communication and marketing actions around the development of DAB+, both nationally and locally. The French Ministry of Culture is a partner of the Association.

The first global campaign took place in January 2024. The objective was to raise awareness of DAB+; the reach was 70% of the French population over 13 years old with a 1000 audio spots played during a week. It was completed by a social media campaign and a billboard campaign in the Paris metro, outdoors in the Ile-de-France region and in Nantes, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lille.

DABplus.fr

The website DABplus.fr was set up to summarise the deployment of DAB+ in France. It is paid by and for stakeholders of DAB+ in France. www.DABplus.fr

Towercast launches second phase of digital radio rollout

30.11.2023 - towerCast WorldDAB Member - France

towerCast, the second largest operator in the broadcasting market and a major player in DAB+ in France, is pleased to announce the launch of the second phase of the national roll-out of DAB+ to 26 stations. The towerCast sites switched on today cover around 15 towns and cities, including Nantes, Aix-en-Provence, Tours, Angers, Valenciennes, Arras and Le Mans, as well as part of the A1, A2, A4, A8, A10, A11 and A26 motorways. "We are extremely proud of this launch, which bears witness to the trust placed in us by our customers and is the culmination of the hard work carried out by our teams over the last few months," said Raphaël Eyraud, Chairman of towerCast.

(towerCast) Read more

New horizons for French radio

22.11.2023 - France

DAB+, webradio, IP radio, apps... what will be future? Leaders of the French radio industry considered what a future without FM could look like during a round table discussion that included Charles-Emmanuel Bon, Secretary General of Radio France, Aurélie Brevan Masset, Director of Institutional relations, NRJ Group, Prune De La Farge, Deputy Director at Radio Classique, Tristan Jurgensen, CEO of RTL2-FUN RADIO and Jean-Eric Valli, co-founder of Les Indés Radios. (in French)

(Medias en Seine) Read more

Maison FG: Two AI hosts join Dance One on DAB+

17.11.2023 - France

From 20 November, Maison FG will be launching its first English-language Artificial Intelligence-generated animation in France on Dance One, the group's new DAB radio station dedicated to international dance music. To boost its digital audience around the world, Dance One will be offering daily virtual hosts, AI.KA and K.AI, both generated by artificial intelligence. "Maison FG has always been at the heart of innovation and digital. Radio FG was one of the first radio stations to broadcast its programme in streaming as early as 1998 and in DAB+ from the very first experiments. I am delighted that our group is the first in France to experiment with this new technology in digital radio," explained Antoine Baduel, CEO of Maison FG.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

Local radio stations in Ath and Lessines switch to DAB+ digital technology

16.11.2023 - France

On T16 November, the heads of the independent local radio stations in Lessines (Ma Radio) and Ath (m@x FM) announced the commissioning of a DAB+ transmitter. The two radio stations have joined forces to form an ASBL, and took part in a call for projects from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation to obtain funding for technical investment.

(L’Avenir) Read more

Video: Where do things stand with the roll-out of DAB+ in France?

10.11.2023 - France

More than one in two listeners can listen to digital radio thanks to digital terrestrial radio (or DAB+). Hervé Godechot, member of Arcom, takes stock of the deployment of DAB+ in France. (VIDEO)

(Arcom) Read more

DAB+: FG now present in over 100 towns and cities

31.10.2023 - France

Radio FG has started broadcasting its programming on DAB+ in Vichy and Montluçon. FG DJ Radio now has 101 transmitters covering as many towns. Maison FG offers a package of 4 radio stations on DAB+. "The deployment and audience for DAB+ is accelerating rapidly in France, and FG has been supporting the roll-out of this new broadcast medium from the outset. DAB+ makes it possible to listen to digital terrestrial radio stations free of charge with HD digital sound," says the company headed by Antoine Baduel.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

DAB: Ado and Oüi FM arrive in Vichy and Montluçon

30.10.2023 - France

As DAB+ continues to roll out across France, coverage this summer passed the symbolic milestone of 50% of the country's population. After Bayonne, Nancy, Metz and Pau, it's now the turn of Vichy (since 24 October) and Montluçon (since 26 October) to have access to DAB+ and to discover ADO, "the legendary Hip-Hop and R'n'B radio station" and OÜI FM, "the only French rock radio station".

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

Montluçon: Two new radio stations set up in the area

27.10.2023 - France

New DAB+ radio stations are coming to the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. OÜI FM, France's only rock radio station, and ADO, the legendary hip-hop radio station, have been added to the radio landscape in Vichy (from 24 October) and Montluçon (from 26 October). This is a major first for the residents of these two towns, who will be able to discover new musical genres. This launch is part of the roll-out of DAB+, whose coverage has passed the symbolic milestone of 50% of the French population.

(lasemainedelallier.fr) Read more

Hervé Godechot: "Digital terrestrial radio has an important role to play in bringing listeners back to linear radio listening".

26.10.2023 - France

Although 1 in 2 French people live in an area where DAB+ is available, there is still a long way to go to make it widely available. Hervé Godechot, journalist and chairman of Arcom's Radio and Digital Audio working group, explains why broadcasters have high expectations of DAB+. "DAB+ is what will enable radio to adapt to today's competitive environment and maintain its popularity and success. But Arcom is not alone in its efforts to ensure the success of DAB+: the channels are just as committed," says Godechot.

(Le Journal du Net) Read more

Radio Orient: 9 new DAB+ broadcast areas

23.10.2023 - France

Radio Orient will complete its network in the coming months, following the decision by the regulatory authority to grant it 9 new broadcasting areas, including Évreux, Laval, Valence, Fréjus, Beauvais, Compiègne, Ploërmel, Saint-Brieuc and Vitré. The coverage of these sectors goes beyond the broadcasting areas announced, not only because DAB+ technology provides better coverage (and improved sound quality), but also because Radio Orient is licensed on an extended basis in most of these sectors, which provides wider coverage.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

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Key Information

Status:	regular
Population:	65.2 million
Population coverage:	54.8%
Services:	460 DAB+
Line-fit automotive sales (cumulative):	6,346,000 devices
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard:	98%
Total Sales (cumulative):	8,394,000 devices
Penetration by household:	13.7%
Last update: 18.07.2024